Barrel-agitator



P. J. RILEY.

BARREL AGITATOR. APPLICATION FILED MAY 14, 19x9. 1.335,.258.- PatentedMai. 30, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

H a we fi I 00 001 P. J. RILEY.

BARREL AGITATOR.

APPLICATION. FILED MAY 14. I919.

1,335, 258v PatentedMar. 30, 1920.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PATRICK J. RILEY, 0F CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASS IGNOR TO ERIE MANUFACTURINGCOMPANY, OF'CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

BARREL-AGITATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented luau. 30, 1920.

Application filed May 14, 1919. Serial No. 297,073.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PATRIoKJ. RILEY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, haveinvented a new and useful Barrel-Agitator, of which the following Theprime object of the invention is to' produce an agitator which can beassembled to permanently remain in a barrel or the like without removingthe heads or staves of the barrel, and which, if desired, can bedisassembled and removed from the barrel with its heads andstavesintact.

Another object of the invention is the production of a device of theabove character possessing few parts of extremely simple constructionwhich results in a very cheap article.

The invention further resides in sundry details of constructionhereinafter more fully pointed out in the following description andclaims. 7

In the drawings which illustrate the invention in its preferred form, asat'present devised, and also the method of assembling:

Figurerl is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken through abarrel illustrating the manner of assembling. the elements of theagitator therewithin without the removal of any of the parts of acompleted barrel or hogshead,

Fig. 2 is a vertical section v1ew taken through a barrel equipped withthe invention after it has been assembled therewithin,

F 3 is an enlarged view of the agitator in elevation with parts brokenawayand in section to illustrate its detail construction,

F 4 is a sectional View ofthe bearing for the shaft of the agitator andillustrating the manner of assembling the agitator within the barrel,

Fig. 5 shows side elevation and plan views respectively of the agitatorblade,

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the modified form of agitator blade,

Fig. 7 illustrates an elongated tubular tool for positioning the bearingA within the barrel through which the screw-driver J may be extended,and

Fig. 8 illustrates a combination tool used for extending the parts 0 and(Z within the barrel.

Referring in detail to the drawings, G indicates a barrel of ordinaryshape and construction having heads 9" and g and the usual bung-hole gin its side.

The invention comprises a hearing A,

preferably cast, having an enlarged central chamberM- therein and areduced threaded opening N in its upper side communicating with saidchamber. This bearing is secured within the barrel and to one of theheads,

.preferably g, by a screw at extending through a screw hole 0 in thelower side of the bearing and centrally alined with the threaded openingN, there being also pr vided on the lower side of the bearing projectinglugs 03 which bite into the head 9 to prevent rotation thereof on thescrew a.

A shaft D, preferably angular in cross section, extends longitudinallywithin.the

barrel and has one end journaled in the bearing A and the other endextending through an opening P in the head 9 The end of the shaftjournaled in the bearing A has a threaded extremity d and a reducedcylindrical neck portion at between the thread extremity and the body ofthe shaft. The threaded portion 65 is of such a diameter as to threadinto the opening N of the bearing, but in the normal assembled positionof the parts, as shown in Figs. *1 and'3, the threaded portion 0? iswholly received in the chamber M of the bearing and the reduced portioncl lies in the threaded opening N, but being of less diameter than thelatter; By this arrangement, the shaft D can be freely rotated in thebearing A and the weight of the shaft is suiiicient to prevent thethreaded portion d thereof from engagingwith the threads N. The oppositeend of the shaft extends beyond the head 9 only for a slight distance inorder that it may be engaged by a crank handle E.

Mounted on the shaft D is an agitator or stirrer of any suitableconstruction. However, in the present form of the invention, it isconstructed of two metallic strips Z) and b overlapped at one of theirends and secured together by rivets or other suitable means 6 Thecentral portions of the overlapped ends are spread apart to provide,preferably, an angular opening b to fit the shaft D andthrough which itextends. The blades 6 and b are corrugated longitudinally to increasetheir strength and rigidity and may be twisted or curved to any desiredposition which may be found to give the best agitating results. Also, anumber of agitators B may be arranged on the shaft in such relation asmay be desired. Collars C are arranged on the shaft D either above orbelow the agitator, or both, tomaintain it in the desired position onthe shaft. These collars are retained in adjusted position by set screwsa threaded therein and engageable with the shaft.

When shipping the barrel or container the handle E is removed from theprojecting end of theshaft and a cap F is threaded into the opening P.This cap is provided with a recess 7 into which the projecting end ofthe shaft D extends and with a threaded nipple f which engages the wallsof the opening P in the head g in order to close the opening.

It can be readily seen that when the cap. F is removed and the crankhandle E applied to the top or exposed end of the shaft D, the lattercan be rotated to cause the blades of the agitator B to stir thecontents of the container. As has been above stated as many agitators Bas is desired may be arranged on the shaft in whatever position orrelation desired to accomplish the purposes of the invention. Whencomparatively light materials are contained in the barrel only oneagitator may be found sufficient and the provision of collar C may notbe necessary, the agitator being permitted to rest upon the top edge ofthe hearing A.

To assemble the agitator within a completed barrel and without removingthe 35 'ceptacle, the opening P is first bored into the headsor stavesthereof or into any like recenter of the top head 9 The screw a is theninserted through the opening 0 in the base of the hearing A which inturn has the threaded end of the tool H (Fig. 8.) threaded in theopening N thereof, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 4. The bearing A beingcar ried by the tool H is then inserted through the opening P andallowed todrop perpendicularly to the center of the bottom head g of thebarrel. When the bearing strikes the bottom head and a slight pressureis applied upon the upper end of the tool H the lugs a? will projectinto the head. The elongated screw-driver J is then inserted into thetool H and engages the screw a to secure the hearing A to the head 9.After this has been done the screw-driver J is removed and the tool Hunthreaded from the hearing. The next step is to insert an agitatorblade end- Wise through the bung-hole g and to insert the threaded endof the shaft D through the opening P, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 6.By the use of the tools K the elements B and D may be brought to suchposition as to permit the shaft D to pass through the opening b of theagitator. Then the lower end of the shaft is threaded into the opening Nof the bearing A until the threads d thereof drop into the chamber M andbring the neck portion d of the shaft in the opening N of the hearing,as can be clearly seen from Fig. 3.

'When it is desired to place a plurality of agitators on the shaft B thebarrel or receptacle is laid upon its side in order that the shaft Dwill lie substantially horizontal. A collar C is then first placed uponthe sh aft in the same manner as the agitator, illus-, tratedin Fig. 6,by means of the tool-K. Then the desired'number of agitators are sembledon the shaft, in the manner illustrated in Fig. '6, and to meet thepurposes for the use intended collars C may be interposed between eachof the agitators and their adjustment made, all of which will be readilyunderstood and is Within the scope of the invention. And, as a finalstep the threaded end of the shaft D is then inserted into the bearingin the manner-above described. 'The shaft D being of a lengthsubstantially that of the barrel, requires the use of a tool, such as K,when inserting it' in position in order that a firm grip can behad andthe assembly of the parts facilitated.

Having thus fully described the invention in the foregoingspecification, it is pointed out that certain changes in theconstruction, combination and arrangement of parts may be made whichfall within the legitimate scope of the appended claims.

WVhat is claimed is 2- r r 1. An agitator comprising a journal hearingtobe secured within a container and having a restricted opening therein,a shaft having one end ins'ertible in said bearing, interengaging meansin said opening and on the extremity of said end of the shaft, saidextremity being movable through said bearing beyond said openingtherein, and a reduced portion on said end of the shaftto extend andliein said opening when theextremity of the shaft has passed theinterengaging means in said opening, whereby the shaft may freely rotatein the bearing, and agitating means on said shaft, l

2. An agitator comprising a journal bearing to be secured within acontainer and 1m. ing a restricted opening therein, a shaft having oneend insertible in said bearing, interengaging means in said opening andon the extremity of said end of the shaft, said extremity being movablethrough said hearing beyond said opening therein, and a reduced portionon said end of the shaft to eX- tend and lie in said opening when theextremity of the shaft has passed the interengaging means in saidopening, whereby the shaft may freely rotate in the be; ring, and

agitating means on said shaft, the opposite end of the shaft beingadapted to project through an opening in the container, and a cap memberto inclose said last mentioned end of the shaft and to close saidopening, when desired. 7

3. An agitator adapted to be inserted in containers comprising a bearinghaving a central enlarged chamber therein, and a threaded openingcommunicating with the chamber, means for securing said bearing inposition in the container, a shaft having one end threaded to engagewith the threaded opening of the bearin and having an adjacent reducedportion, the threaded end of the shaft being adapted to normally lie insaid chamber of the bearing and the reduced portion of the shaft beingadapted to normally lie in said threaded opening whereby the shaft isfixedly rotatably mounted in the bearing, the opposite end of said shaftbeing adapted to extend through an opening in the container and to havethe lateral movement thereof limited by the walls of said opening,

means for the extended end of the shaft for i rotating the latter, andagitating means on said shaft.

4. An agitator of the kind described, com prising a bearing insertiblethrough a rela tively small opening in a barrel or the like, an agitatorblade insertible through the bung of the barrel, a shaft insertiblethrough said first opening and to connect with said blade, whereby thelatter will rotate with the shaft, said shaft being adapted to berotatably attached in said bearing, the other end of the shaft beingaccessible through said firstmentioned opening, and means whereby theshaft may be rotated.

5. An agitator of the kind described, comprising a bearing insertiblethrough a relatively small opening in a barrel or the like and adaptedto be secured to the opposite wall of the barrel by instruments insertedin said opening, an agitator blade insertible through the bung of thebarrel, collars insertible through the bung of the barrel, a shaftinsertible through said first opening and to pass through said collarsand said blade, mean on said collars for adjustably securing them to theshaft, whereby the blade may be maintained on the shaft at any desiredposition, said shaft being adapted to have its inner end rotatablyattached to the bearing, the opposite end of the shaft being adapted toextend outwardly from the barrel through said first opening and to havethe lateral movement thereof limited by the walls of the opening, meanson the extended end of the shaft for rotating the latter and beingremovable therefrom, and a cap member adapted to inclose thelast-mentioned end of the shaft when said last-mentioned means isremoved therefrom and to be threaded in said opening to close thelatter.

6. An agitator of the kind described, comprising a shaft insertiblethrough a relatively small opening in a barrel or the like, an agitatorblade insertible into the barrel through an opening therein extendingsubstantially at right angle to said first mentioned opening, said shaftbeing adapted to be passed through said blade, whereby the latter willextend substantially radially from the shaft, means for rotatablysecuring the shaft to an inner wall of the barrel, one end of said shaftbeing adapted to project outwardly from the barrel through saidfirst-mentioned opening, and means on said end of the shaft whereby thelatter may be rotated.

7. An agitator of the kind described comprising a relatively mallbearing insertible through an opening in a barrel by the medium ofinstruments removably engageable with the bearing, said bearing havingmeans engageable with tools for securing it to'a wall of the barrelremote from said opening, a shaft insertible through the same opening inthe barrel, an agitator blade for the shaft insertible through anopening in the barrel at right angles to said first opening, whereby theblade may be attached to the shaft, said shaft being removablyengageable in said bearing, means for retaining the shaft in the bearingagainst unintentional removal, one end of the shaft projecting slightlyfrom the first-mentioned opening in the barrel, and means engageablewith the projected end of the shaft for rotating the latter.

8. The combination with a completed assembled barrel, consisting ofside, top and bottom walls, said barrel being provided with spaced andrelatively small openings therein, of a shaft inserted into the barrelthrough one of said openings, an agitator member inserted into thebarrel through the other of said openings and in position to be engagedby the shaft whereby said member is connected to the shaft to-rotatetherewith, a bearing mounted in the barrel to engage with the shaft formaintaining it in position.

9. The combination with a completed assembled barrel, consisting ofside, top and bottom walls, said barrel being provided with spaced andrelatively small openings therein, of a shaft inserted through one ofsaid openings into the barrel, an'agitator member inserted into thebarrel through the other of said openings and having means thereonengageable' with the shaft whereby it is connected with the shaft torotate therewith a bearing inserted through one of said openings andmounted within the barrel, an interengaging means on said bearing andshaft whereby the latter is rotatably and'detachably secured in positionin the barrel, said shaft being operable from the end thereof adjacentsaid first-mentioned opening.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

PATRICK J. RILEY.

